Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-07-15

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his horse sharply against her wearied animal
nearly throwing it down. but she was too
qairk for him, and saved herself by catching
at the name. jess said nothing; indeed, she
made 10 answer TO her tormentors, and fortu-
nately John understood very nttle OF wn,tL
they were saying Presently, however, the
young Bocr made another attempt, putting
out his hand TO give her Il sly push; and, as it
happened, John saw it, and the sight of the
indrnity made the blood boil in his veins.
Before he could reflect on what he was doing
he was alongside of the man, and, catching
him by the throat, had hurled him backward
over his crupper with all the force he could
command. The man fell heavily upon his
shoulders, and instantly there was a great
hubbub. John drew his revolver, and the
other Beers raised their rifles and jess
thought that there was an end of it, and put
her hand before her face, having first thanked
John for avenging the insult with n swift
flash of her beautiful eyes And, indeed, in
another second it would have been all over
had not the elder man who had taken the pass
interposed; the fact being that he had wit
messed the proceedings that led to his follow
er's discontinue, and, being decent man Mt
| bottom, had disapproved of them.
! Leave them alone and put down those
! guns" he shouted. 1T served Jacobus right;
he was trying to push the girl from the horse.
Almighty it is not wonderful those English
call us brute beasts when you boys do such
things. Put down your guns, I say, and one
of you help Jacobus up. He looks as sick as
a buck with bullet through it,"
Accordingly the row passed over, and the
| playful Jacobus-whom jess noted with sat
isfaction was exceedingly sick and trembling
in every limb-was with difficulty hoisted on
to his horse, and proceeded on his journey
with not single bit of fun left in him.
A little while after this jess pointed out a
long, low hill that lay upon the fiat belt, a
dozen miles or so away, like Il stone on a
stretch of sand.
Look" she said, "there is Mooifontein at
| last"
owe are not there yet" remarked John,
sadly.
Another weary half hour passed, and then
they suddenly, on passing over a crest, saw
Hans Coetzees homestead lying down by the
water in the hollow So that was where
they were being taken to.
Within hundred yards of the house the
Beers halted and consulted, except Jacobus,
who went on, still looking very green. Finally
the elder man came to them and addressed
Jess, at the same time handing her back the
pass. You can go on home" he said. "Thc
]
more about him."
He says that l can go. What shall dog
asked Jess Il don't like leaving you with
these men,"
DO! why go, of course. l can look after
myself; and if l can't, certainly you won't be
able TO help me. Perhaps you will be able to
get some help at the farm. AT any rate, you
must 60"
"Now, Englishman," said the Boer
"Good by, jess, - said John. God bless you ="
"Good by, john" she answered looking
him steadily in the eyes for a moment, and
then turning away to hide the tears which
would gather in her own.
And thus they parted.
She knew her way now, even across the
open vedt, for she dared not go by the road
There was, however, a bride path that ran
over the hill at the back of the house, and for
this she shaped her course. 1t was 5 o'clock
now, and both she and her horse were in a
condition of great exhaustion, which was en-
HANGED in her case by want of food and
trouble of mind. But she was a strong
woman and had will of iron, and she held
on where most women would have died. jess
meant to get to Mooifontein somehow, and
she knew that she would get there. If she
could only reach the place and get some help
sent to her lover, she did not greatly care
what happened to her afterward The norc
of the horse she was riding pot slower and
slower From the amblinp conter into which
Mt first she manared occosion,Ilv to
force it and which is the host noco to
travel in Soutb Africa. If continually col
lapsed into a rough, short trot, which was
agony to her, riding as She was, and from
that into walk. Indeed, just before sunset,
or II little after o'clock, the walk became
that stretched nm tbe Stone 70 fine uooifontoin
hill and here the noon he,st fall down nj
tarlv worn ont Jass sIinnad off ond ,rio,, r.
drag it nm but failed II had not ward of
90 left in if So She did What she co,IJ mil.
Inc off the birdie mud unini,o the girtb CO
mat tbo snddl. would fall or if Tho bor., a,,,,
,oouaped to ris. Then sh. sat IN worl, to
wall, over tbe hi The moor horse ,,otrhrd
her 90 with melancholy ayas lno,iu,, ,,ot i,